Accordingly, Director of the International Francophone Institute (IFI) Ngo Tu
Lap was conferred with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of France
while the Order of Academic Palms was presented to Associate Professor Dr. Trinh
Van Minh, senior lecturer of the University of Education under the Vietnam
National University (VNU) – Hanoi.
Established in 1957 by the Minister of Culture, the Knight of the Order of Arts
and Letters is one of the ministry-level distinctions of France for individuals
who make contributions to literature and arts in France and the world.
As a former naval officer, Lap graduated from Baku Marine University in the
former Soviet Union, Hanoi Law University, Fontenay-St Cloud University (master
level), and Illinois State University (doctorate level). He published over 20
books, including four short stories, two poem and five essay collections along
with works translated from French, Russian and English language.
He won many prizes and was nominated for PEN Award for Poetry Translation with
“Black Star” collection.
Under his leadership since 2016, IFI has become a multi-disciplinary research
centre that has close links with French universities and attracts members from
over 20 countries. It is also a Francophone centre in Asia-Pacific.
The Order of Academic Palms is the oldest French distinction founded on March
19, 1808. Decisions on nominations and promotions are decided by the Minister of
National Education.
Associate Professor Dr. Minh graduated from the University of Languages and
International Studies (bachelor level), Aix-Marseille University (bachelor and
master level on linguistics), New Sorbonne University - Paris III (master and
doctorate level on language and culture teaching theory).
He was a member of the Scientific Committee under the Francophone University
Agency (AUF), President of the Regional Committee of Experts of AUF in Asia
Pacific, former dean of the Pedagogy Science Faculty under the VNU- Hanoi.
As a regular expert who was invited to work with the Vietnamese Ministry of
Education and Training, the International Francophone Organisation’s
Asia-Pacific Regional Francophone Centre, the AUF and the French Embassy in
Vietnam, Minh authored dozens of books and articles about French teaching and
training of French language teachers in Vietnam and the world.
Source: VNA